time frame for progression of male pattern baldness

[bwaters2000]

Forgot to ask this to one of those dermatologists, but once the onset of male pattern baldness hits you with some sort of initial thinning, is it biologically possible for that onset to be halted for very long period of time, and then progress, and then halt intermittently in one poor guy's life who gets inflicted with this damnable trait?

 

[DonaldAnderson]

I have heard that can happen. But I have not experienced it or seen that happen with anyone, myself.

 

[oldmpber]

Forgot to ask this to one of those dermatologists, but once the onset of male pattern baldness hits you with some sort of initial thinning, is it biologically possible for that onset to be halted for very long period of time, and then progress, and then halt intermittently in one poor guy's life who gets inflicted with this damnable trait?

Yes it happens in my family. You get rapid progression for a short time every decade or so then very slow loss in between. a hair Doctor told me it was just one of the many variations of male pattern baldness. Mine stopped at 26 then started again around 36. My uncle was active in his late 30's then it slowed way down only to reactivate in his late 40's. I have talked to other guys who saw the same thing thing in their relatives.

 

[Northman]

I think that is the way mine has gone. I started with temple recession around 19 and still nearly 20 years later I'm not completely bald. It does seem to have hit in fits over the years.

 

[oldmpber]

I think that is the way mine has gone. I started with temple recession around 19 and still nearly 20 years later I'm not completely bald. It does seem to have hit in fits over the years.

If there is a good male pattern baldness pattern to have , I guess this is it. My uncle started receding in his teens yet didn't become a nw6 horseshoe till he was around 65.

 

[bwaters2000]

Well, in these kinds of balding, it's probably better to not mess with the risks and cost of finasteride, propecia, or minoxidil......?

 

[oldmpber]

Well, in these kinds of balding, it's probably better to not mess with the risks and cost of finasteride, propecia, or minoxidil......?

At times it will be very slow other times very fast. For about 3-4 years I had to use both finasteride and minoxidil to control mine, then it let up. Now 7 years later, it seems to be starting up again and I am sure at some point it will stop yet again.
Using minoxidil alone you can slow it down but it will still progress over time. You will not normally notice this as it creeps up on you. For ex: Most of the time I think I look decent, esp compared to other guys my age. Then I see pic of my self from high school (~30years) and it's kinda embarrassing because it makes me look like i have really let myself go in the hair dept.

If this doesn't bother you then you don't need treatment. But I have come to the conclusion that I am still immature and vain in some ways.. sigh!